Quarter after quarter, Nielsen’s Total Audience Report reveals AM/FM radio is America’s number one mass reach media. It’s bigger than social, bigger than TV, and bigger than smartphones. Why is this important to advertisers? A major new study and an influential marketing book widely read among CMOs and brand managers explains why reach is so important.

Though search costs continue to rise, AM/FM radio remains a stable and effective alternative for advertisers looking to make an impact. It generates strong inceases in customers, digital impact, and impressive ROI.

Westwood One, America’s largest radio network, is rolling out NextRadio as the first interactive audience measurement tool for over-the-air FM radio advertising campaigns. Westwood One’s NextRadio solution will deliver consumer insights and intelligence that optimizes campaigns and proves ROI to national advertisers.

Springtime is here, which means summer holidays are right around the corner. Consumers celebrate with barbecues, traveling, and spending time with their families. But mostly? They shop. Holidays drive spending. In the next few months retailers will have major opportunities to reach consumers heading to the store with AM/FM radio.

Radio is an integral part of media consumption for millions of Americans. For some advertisers, radio is the best kept secret in media. In order to better tell radio’s story, Nielsen created “The Six R’s of Radio” — remind, register, reinforce, relate, reach, and return. These are key attributes of radio that can help advertisers build winning media plans.